by Cheryl Batavia

Have You Visited a Zoo Lately?

Have You Visited a Zoo Lately?

Zoos of yesteryear…

grim prisons for animals

innocent of crimes.

Entertainment for people…

Animal exploitation.

Zoos of the present…

appropriate habitat,

animal rescue,

endangered animals raised

to be returned to the wild.

Forward-thinking zoos

enlightening the public,

classes for students,

funds raised for wildlife preserves.

Golden Rule for animals!

When my daughters visited from Texas recently, one of our excursions was to Zoo Tampa, rated the number five Zoo in the US. We participated in a “Feed the Rhino” experience and learned about how Zoo Tampa’s breeding program is helping to prevent extinction of the Indian Rhino. The “Feed the Rhino” animal encounter and photo purchases also raise money to support this program. Katey Batavia, Ellen Maher, and Cheryl Batavia.

Cheryl feeding collard greens to a young Indian Rhino. Notice the prehensile lips and short horn that distinguish Indian rhinos from African rhinos.

We enjoyed a ride on the old-fashioned carousel. Katey posed on a carousel animal.

On “safari” through the African animal enclousure, we relaxed on a tram riding past elephants, giraffes, storks, and painted dogs.

West Indian Manatee entering the viewing area. We also saw a beautiful manatee mother and calf in the aquarium/reptile exhibit. Zoo Tampa has a manatee rescue program for manatees injured by boat propellors. In spite of boating laws to protect them, some accidents still occur.

American flamingos wowed us in the Florida native animal area. They now live in the wild in Everglades National Park after a hundred-year absence from Florida in the wild. They unexpectedly reappeared about twenty years ago. There is speculation that they came from South America. Photo by Karolina Bobeck from Unsplash.

Endangered Florida panthers are featured in the Florida exhibit. Florida panthers are being bred in captivity and are rarely seen in the wild. Bobcats, also featured in the exhibit, have adapted to living near people and are a common sight in suburban Florida neighborhoods.

A sun bear was a delight to watch as he played with a toy that dispensed a snack.

Afternoon meeting on the primate island.

Ellen and Katey. Photo by Cheryl.

Heading home from Tampa. Sunset from the St. Petersburg Skyway Bridge. Photo by Katey Batavia.

We had a great time at Zoo Tampa! Rhino photos by zoo photographer, other uncredited photos by Ellen and Katey.

Copyright© 2023 by Cheryl Batavia

Two years ago my daughters and I visited a lovely Florida zoo for rescued animals. If you missed that post and would like to check it out, click here:

Animals at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park & Poems about Some of the Animals

55 Comments

    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Frank! Yes, it was great to spend time with my daughters! I only see them once a year. I will post more about their visit later on.

      I know of several zoos that are as I have described, and I think that is the trend.

      I hope you are enjoying the holiday season with your family. ❤ ❤ ❤

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Mousumi, for your kind response. My daughters took most of the photos with their cell phones. We had a great time at the zoo

      I agree that if animals and trees thrive, we all thrive. Well-said! ❤ ❤ ❤

      I had never been to Zoo Tampa before. It is an old zoo, but is completely updated. The zoo is animal-centered, and professionals give excellent care, including recreational and social activities…truly amazing!

      Hope all is well with you! ❤

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Rosaliene. ❤ So glad you like the photos. My daughters took most of them with their cell phones.

      I think you might enjoy the zoo, at least judging by the four or five I have visited in recent years. Zoos once deserved the unsavory reputation they have had and are now trying to change.

      DC, Miami, Tampa, Disney World, and the Homosassa, FL wildlife refuge are all good bets. There are probably some good zoos near you too. 🙂

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Kate! It was my daughter Katey’s idea to feed the Rhinos. She has a pet-sitting business and is in high demand! Katey takes care of dogs, cats, goats, chickens, horses, and other farm animals while their owners are away for a weekend or on vacation. I am glad she talked me into feeding the rhinos! 🙂

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      I remember those days of bored, lonely animals in small cages with metal bars and a bad smell. I don’t think you will see much of that if you go to a zoo. In Florida the animals are in large outdoor enclosures with numerous other animals and may be able to go in and out of a a shelter at will. Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Take care, Lawrence! ❤

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      It’s great that you got to see the pandas, Ingrid. ❤ Your sons must have been so excited! I was living in DC when the pandas first came to the National Zoo, and I saw them there. I am sad that they are returning to China.

      We had a wondeul day at Zoo Tampa! Thank you for sharing your zoo experience. ❤ What do you think of the Edinburgh Zoo?

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you for your thoughtful response, JM. ❤ Zoos have a long history of animal cruelty to overcome. Many of them are doing good things.

      Zoo fundraisers are supporting animal preserves worldwide that help save wildlife from extinction. In addition to financial support, cooperating zoos have breeding programs to reestablish animal populations in the wild and enrich the gene pool. Zoos that provide encounters with animals in natural habitats and offer educational programs influence the public to protect all wildlife and wildlife habitats.

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  14. Unknown's avatar

    I haven’t been to a zoo in years. It’s good to know some zoos are creating a natural and pleasant environment for the animals. Keeping them in small cages is cruel, IMO. Beautiful post, Cheryl!💟

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  16. Unknown's avatar

    Beautiful photographs, Cheryl! Love the way you enjoyed your trip to Zoo Tampa. I’m happy for you. This is the time when tall-legged flammingos are seen in flocks in and around Mumbai too, and sometimes I go to have a look.

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  19. Unknown's avatar

    Such lovely pictures! Its been years since I went for zoo and your post reminds me of those childhood memories.

    However, as you said in the poem, most zoos are only for human entertainment purposes and animals aren’t taken care of. Happy to see that things are changing now.

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you for your thoughtful remarks. ❤ ❤ ❤ The zoos and wildlife parks I have seen are a huge improvement over the early days. The Homosassa, FL State Wildlife Park we visited a couple of years ago is for rescued Florida animals, and they have breeding programs for endangered animals. The animals are raised to be reestablished into their natural habitats. It is a wonderful place to visit! If interested, click on the link above. 🙂

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      This zoo is a very pleasant place to visit, Veena, with lots of trees for shade. The animals have ample space in their enclosures. Even though this an historic zoo., it has been nicely updated. The animals are provided with opportunities for interaction with each other, toys, and activities to keep them happy! It is ranked in the top five US zoos! 🐘🦩🐒🐪🦜

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